Base structure for heating apparatus



May 23, 1950 F166 2,508,818

I BASE STRUCTURE FOR HEATING -APPARATUS Filed Jan. 5, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I I nnnnn myl INVENTOR. BASIL D FIGG w/f wv ATTORNEY,

FIG. I

May 23, 1950 B. D. FIGG 2,508,818

BASE STRUCTURE FOR HEATING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 5, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet? INVENTOR. BASIL D. FIGG BY FIG. 3 FM)? M ATTORNEY l4. pose which will appear presently. An annular bottom plate I6 is welded to the lower end of the tube l and to the inner surface of the tube-l4,

Patented May 23, 1950 BASE STRUCTURE FOR HEATING APPARATUS Basil D. Figg, East Lansing, Mich., assignor to Motor Wheel Corporation, Lansing, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Applicationilanuary 5, 1946, Serial No. 639,468

This invention relates to heating apparatus and more particularly to supporting bases therefor. The principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel base of ornamental appearance and of particularly simple and inexpensive construction for a heater.

Another object of the invention is to provide a base for a heater in which the base is fabricate from a pair of sheet metal stampings.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an especially simple two-piece sheet metal base for a heater in which the base is constructed to support the inner and outer shells of the heater in proper spaced relation to each otheryto act as a heat insulator between the burner and the floor on which the heater rests; to act as a receptacle for any fuel leaking from the burner or condensation of products of combustion; and to receive leveling screws.

These objects will more fully appear in the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a water heater having a base embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of the same;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the water heater base;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken on substantially the line 6-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of a modified form of base; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary cross-sectional View similarto Figure 5 showing still another form of base. The form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 4 is illustrated as'being incorporated in an oil burning water heater, although it will be obvious that the invention is not restricted to water heaters. In general, the water heater is of more or less conventional form. It comprises a boiler, indicated generally by the numeral l0, and a pot type burner i i, all. enclosed within an outer shell I2 and mounted upon a base l3.

The boiler comprises outer and inner concentric tubes M and I5. These may be of any suitable metal which resists corrosion. The tube l4 extends substantially the full height of the heater. The tube 1 5 is considerably shorter than the tube l4, so that its lower end can be spaced a substantial distance from the lower end of the tube Both ends of tube l5 are open for a pur- 8 Claims; (01. 126-277) as illustrated in Figure 2. A similar plate, not shown, forms the top of the boiler. The space between the tubes l4 and l 5 and between the-top plate and the bottom plate It is adapted to be filled with water to be heated. An annular ring I! is welded to the bottom plate and extends downwardly therefrom a short distance, as shown in Figure 2.

The burner I l is an oil burner of the vaporizing pot type. Its construction is well known and need not be specifically described. The upper end of the burner is telescoped within the annular ring I I and held therein by means which will be described presently. Fuel is fed to the bottom of the burner from a source not shown through a suitable conduit l8. When the burner is operating, the burning fuel vapors and products of combustion escape through the tube to a flue of conventional form and the heat from the burning fuel heats the water within the boiler above described.

The boiler is enclosed within the outer shell I2 located in spaced concentric relation thereto. Insulation of any suitable form is packed within the space between the outer shell l2 and the boiler l0.

- The base l3 which supports the above described structure constitutes the essence of the present invention. The base is formed of two pressed metal members, an upper member I 9 and a lower member 20. .The upper member 19 is formed to provide a relatively flat rim portion 2 l surrounded by a depending peripheral flange 22 in which is formed an annular rabbet 23. The central portion of the member I9 is depressed at 24 to provide a pan to catch any fuelwhich may drip from the burner, if the latter should becomeflooded,

- or from the joints in the conduit 18.

At spaced intervals about the rim portion 21 the metal is presed upwardly to form relatively .large bosses 25. Preferably there are three of .these bosses. The radially outer vertical surface 7 upper and lower members are connectedtogether, h e t m w r edge 9 fle s is 9lldl wardly to effect a secure connection between the two parts.

The lower surface of the lower member 20 is provided with integral downwardly depressed bosses 2B which form legs to support the base. Preferably the bosses are four in number, equidistantly spaced around the base. The bottom of each boss is punched or drilled and the holes so formed are tapped to receive levelling screws 29. The screws may be adjusted to compensate for unevenness of the floor on which the base is supported.

The burner ll mentioned above is supported upon the upper member IS in any suitable manner. Preferably the support comprises a heavy steel or iron leg 30 in which at least one jack screw 3| is threaded. By means of the jack screw the burner may be forced upwardly into tight engagement with the annular ring l1.

The outer shell l2 and the outer tube M of the boiler H) are mounted upon the base, as clearly indicated in Figure 2. The outer shell [2 telescopes over the upper member l9 and fits relatively snugly within the rabbet 23. The outer shell is secured thereto by screws 32.

The outer tube I4 of the boiler is telescoped over the three bosses 25 and is secured thereto by the screws 26 mentioned above.

Figure 5 shows a somewhat modified form of the invention. In its essentials the base shown in Figure 5 is the same as that previously described, except for the means for attaching the outer tube of the boiler thereto. Instead of providing upwardly extending integral bosses 25, a plurality of integral lugs 35 are partially sheared from the top of the upper member Isa and are bent upwardly and outwardly at right angles thereto, as shown in Figure 5. Each lug is then provided with a tapped aperture which receives a screw 26a by means of which the outer tube Ma of the boiler can be attached to the base.

Figure 6 is essentially the same as the modification shown in Figure 5 except for the location of the lugs for attaching the outer tube of the boiler to the base. In this modification a plurality of lugs 36 are sheared from the upper member of the base Nb and bent upwardly and inwardly therefrom. The lugs 36, however, are sheared from the metal of the upper member of the base about the radially outer and side edges of each lug and are then bent upwardly adjacent the radially inner portion of each lug. Each lug 36 is provided with a tapped aperture to receive screws 26!) by means of which the outer tube I419 of the boiler is secured to the base.

By reversing the position of the shearing cuts to form the lugs 35 and 36 in the modifications shown in Figures 5 and 6, then bending the lugs up in opposite directions, the base can be adapted to receive boilers of different capacities without in any other way changing the configuration of the base. This permits the use ofthe same forming dies to form bases for heaters having different sizes of boilers.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that the heater base described above is of particularly simple and economical construction. At the same time, it is of exceedingly ornamental appearance because its graceful lines can be blended into the lines of the outer shell of the heater to which it is attached. The hollow double wall structure of the base forms an especially eflicient insulator to prevent the floor directly beneath the base from becoming overheated when the burner is in operation. Also, it is a simple matter to attach leveling screws to the base so that the heater-and its enclosed burner will be level, which is required for the most efiicient operation.

The scope of the invention in indicated in the appended claims.

1. A base for a heater of the type including inner and outer substantially coaxial vertically arranged tubular shells, said base comprising upper and lower one piece sheet metal. members rigidly secured together, said upper member having an annular rabbet therein adjacent its perimeter for receiving and supporting the outer of said shells, said upper member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart lugs integral therewith positioned laterally inwardly of said annular rabbet and in telescopic engagement with the lower extremity of said inner shell for spacing said inner shell from said outer shell.

2. A base for a heater of the type including inner and outer substantially coaxial vertically arranged tubular shells, said base comprising upper and lower one piece sheet metal members rigidly secured together, said upper member having an annular rabbet therein adjacent its perimeter for receiving and supporting the outer of said shells, said upper member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart upstanding bosses integral therewith positioned laterally of said annular rabbet and in telescopic engagement with the lower extremity of said inner shell for spacing said inner shell from said outer shell.

3. A base for a heater of the type including inner and outer substantially coaxial vertically arranged tubular shells, said base comprising upper and lower dish-shaped substantially imperforate sheet metal members opening toward each other and secured together in opposed relationship to form a hollow structure, said upper member being formed to provide laterally spaced apart seats for supporting the lower extremities of said shells in spaced apart substantially coaxial relation.

4. A base for a heater as defined in claim 3 wherein said upper member is provided with a central depression, the bottom and sides of which are imperforate.

5. A base for a heater of the type including inner and outer substantially coaxial vertically arranged tubular shells, said base comprising a substantially imperforate upwardly opening dishshaped sheet metal lower member and a substantially imperforate downwardly opening sheet metal upper member, said members being secured together in telescopic opposed relationship at their perimeters, said upper member being formed to provide laterally spaced apart seats for supporting the lower extremities of said shells in spaced substantially coaxial relation, the said seats for the inner shell comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart lugs integral with said upper member.

6. A base for a heater of the type including inner and outer substantially, coaxial vertically arranged tubular shells, said base comprising a substantially imperforate upwardly opening dishshaped sheet metal lower member and a substantially imperforate downwardly opening sheet metal upper member, said members being secured together in telescopic opposed relationship at their perimeters, said upper member being formed to provide laterally spaced apart seats for supporting the lower extremities of said. shells in spaced substantially coaxial relation, the said seats for the inner shell comprising a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart upstanding bosses integral with said upper member.

7. A base for a heater of the type including inner and outer substantially coaxial vertically arranged tubular shells, said base comprising a. substantially imperforate upwardly opening dishshaped sheet metal lower member and a substantially imperforate downwardly opening dishshaped sheet metal upper member, and means on said upper member for supporting said shells in spaced substantially coaxial relationship, one of said members being provided with an annular rabbet adjacent its perimeter and the perimetral edge of the other member being seated in said rabbet in telescopic relationship.

8. A base for a heater of the type including inner and outer substantially coaxial vertically arranged tubular shells, said base comprising a substantially imperforate upwardly opening dishshaped sheet metal lower member and a substantially imperforate downwardly opening dishshaped sheet metal upper member, and means on said upper member for supporting said shells in spaced substantially coaxial relationship, said upper member being provided with a central depression, the bottom and sides of which are imperforate.

BASIL D. FIGG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

